2018

Mám Trasna Murders Pardon Welcomed

TG4 have welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice & Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, that the Government has agreed to advise President Michael D. Higgins to exercise his constitutional right to grant a pardon to Maolra Seoighe, who was wrongfully convicted and hanged in relation to the infamous Mám Trasna Murders of 1882.

This injustice has been highlighted in a TG4 film, Murdair Mhám Trasna (The Mam Trasna Murders), which is to be broadcast next Wednesday, 4th April at 9.30pm, in which President Higgins supports the case for a pardon being granted. The case is seen by experts as one of the most famous miscarriages of justice in British & Irish legal history.

President Higgins states in the film, “Everything that happened at the level of the State was horrendous. There was bribery involved. The accused didn’t get a proper chance to defend themselves. There wasn’t an atmosphere of equality and there was no equality as regards legal processes at that time.

Murdair Mhám Trasna is based on the book ‘Éagóir’, written by former Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin who has been leading the campaign to have Maolra Seoighe and the innocent men convicted of the historic murders pardoned.

Murdair Mhám Trasna, which has recently been selected to represent Ireland in the history category at the Celtic Media Festival, is produced by Galway based production company ROSG for TG4, with support from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

You can see the full account of the events that unfolded, when Murdair Mhám Trasna is broadcast, on April 4th, at 9.30pm on TG4 and worldwide on the TG4 player.

ENDS

Note to Editors: Seán Ó Cuirreáin and others are available to speak about this case on request. Call Trevor Ó Clochartaigh at 087-2477624 with enquiries. Media resource links below also.